Gavin McKenna hasn’t played a game for the Toronto Maple Leafs yet, but understands his role as the franchise’s new hope.

The No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft continued to face pressure at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Chicago, expressing his goals for his first season.

“For sure, make the playoffs. Hopefully go on a run there with the team that we got,” McKenna told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan. “And of course you want to win a Calder Trophy in your rookie season. I think if that happens, that’s a pretty good year.”

McKenna, 18, signed his entry‑level contract after a standout freshman season at Penn State. With the contract, Toronto expects him to compete for top‑six minutes immediately, and the organization has made it clear that his development is tied directly to its win‑now ambitions.

Luckily for McKenna, he already has support to lean on in the Maple Leafs locker room, especially from captain Auston Matthews.

“We’ve had our convos and I’ve asked him for advice. He’s been an open book,” McKenna said. “I think we’ve just gone through similar things, so just trying to navigate through Toronto and how to deal with the media and stuff like that. He’s done a good job with it, so smart guy to go to.”

Toronto missed the postseason last year, but general manager John Chayka responded with an aggressive offseason, from picking up league veterans to picking up a sought-after rookie like McKenna.

“You see what Chayka is doing, you see the players he’s bringing in, I think we obviously want to go on a run this year,” McKenna said. “So it’s very fortunate for me to go to a team like that who’s hungry and in that winning environment. It’s pretty common that players who get drafted first overall go to a team who’s tanking and it’s not the case for me. I know I’ve gotten lucky.”

Even with the pressure surrounding him, McKenna says he won’t lose sight of where he came from.

The Whitehorse, Yukon native grew up in a tight‑knit community, and his family’s story, particularly his grandfather’s experience in Canada’s residential school system, shaped his outlook.

“Growing up in a small community, you’ve got a lot of supporters,” McKenna said. “So everyone there kind of knows me in a way. And for me, I want to lead by example and be a good role model for the kids and even the adults.”

One lesson from home is a must for McKenna: “Stay humble.”

“You never want to be that guy who’s known for having an ego or being cocky,” McKenna said. “I think for me, my family did a good job at that. [My parents] are both very smart humans and they’re both athletes. So they’ve kind of showed me how to do it. And I think that’s something I’ll try and carry with me forever.”

McKenna will play his first game for Toronto on September 29 against the Montreal Canadiens in Scotiabank Arena.